Support Services
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The Support Services division assists the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service with many of the day-to-day tasks that a police service needs to complete. The majority of our civilian personnel work in the Support Services Division.
There are a wide range of responsibilities and departments under this umbrella. Our dispatchers, records department, statistics, training, court services, fleet and building management, property, and Information Technology all fall within the scope of Support Services.
In order for us to do our job effectively, we must work with the local Crown’s office and courthouse personnel. We divide that into two areas: the courthouse and the court office.
At the Courthouse, we have full time and part-time special constables who are responsible for escorting prisoners, security of the courthouse, housing and security of prisoners, collection, filing, and handling of court documents, and communicating with the court office clerks. Special Constables also transport prisoners and accused individuals to & from the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre (ATRC) and on occasion to the Provincial Offences Court at the Civic Centre.
We have four clerks that work out of our court office. They are responsible for preparing court documents such as informations, warrants, crown briefs, subpoenas, summonses and any paperwork required by the Crown Attorney’s, Justices, Justice of the Peace and Bail Officers. The clerks must ensure all accused and their respective charges get on to a docket to appear in court. This is done by ensuring all the required paperwork and files are completed accurately and in a timely fashion. Our clerks also work closely with the Crown Attorney’s office. All clerks have knowledge of the Criminal Code, Youth Criminal Justice Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Provincial Offences Act.
Click here for the Information Services webpage.
The Property & Exhibit Unit is responsible for the cataloguing and storage of all exhibits and found property collected by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
When making an inquiry with the Property Unit, please have your occurrence number available.
Members of the public are to contact the Property Unit prior to attending the office to determine if their property can be released and to discuss what documentation is required in order to retrieve property.
Photo identification is required prior to the release of any property being held by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.
Found Property
Found property is held for 90 days by the Property & Exhibit Unit while the police attempt to locate and notify owners. Found bicycles are held for 30 days.
After the 90 day period has lapsed and no owner has been found, the property will be lawfully disposed of in accordance with the Police Services Act.
Property seized by police or held as evidence
All property being held by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Property & Exhibit Unit that has been seized by the police or held as evidence cannot be released unless authorization from the Investigating Officer is on file.
In accordance with the Police Services Act, property in the possession of the Police Service that is the subject of court proceedings cannot be released until thirty (30) days after the conclusion of the court proceedings in order to allow for the appeal process.
Seized/Found Property Auctions
Property seized in criminal investigations, or recovered items that go unclaimed are auctioned off in accordance with the Police Services Act.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is currently offering an online auctions platform.
Firearms
Firearms will only be released at a pre-scheduled appointment made through the Property & Exhibit Unit. Firearms in possession of the Police Service that are subject to release by way of a court order can only be released when the Property & Exhibit Unit has received the following:
- A copy of the court order,
- Authorization from the Investigating Officer; and the thirty (30) day appeal period has passed.
When attending to retrieve your firearm at your scheduled appointment, you will be required to produce proof of registration and all valid firearms licenses and registration certificates.
If the firearm being retrieved is a restricted weapon, you will be required to produce an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from a Chief Firearms Officer.
You can apply for an ATT by calling 1-800-731-4000. To be eligible for an ATT you must have a valid firearms license authorizing you to possess restricted firearms.
You must have a proper trigger lock and lock box in your possession to transport the weapon in order for the weapon to be released to you.
If you have any questions concerning the licensing or transporting of restricted firearms, inquiries can be made through The Canadian Firearms Program.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Training Services Unit is dedicated to providing relevant, consistent, timely and cost effective training to sworn and civilian personnel to meet or exceed legislated standards. The two person unit develops, delivers and evaluates training programs to fulfill both organizational and individual learning and developmental needs.
In addition to the use of force components required to be a sworn member, training services is also responsible for the orientation and internal training of new recruits, experienced (lateral transfer) officers, Auxiliary Members, and Special Constables hired by the Service.